Development of lamivudine containing multiple emulsions stabilized by gum odina

Abstract In the current study, a multiple emulsion (W/O/W) of lamivudine was developed using a new biopolymer, gum odina (GO d ) to increase bioavailability and patient compliances. GO d was employed to stabilize both the interfaces of liquid membrane in both the external and internal aqueous phases. The developed W/O/W multiple emulsion of lamivudine was characterized by analyzing droplet size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), sedimentation, viscosity, rheological properties, drug entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release and stability at various storage conditions. The results obtained were also compared with W/O/W multiple emulsion of lamivudine prepared using Tween 80 (a standard emulsion stabilizer). The drug entrapment efficiency of W/O/W multiple emulsion stabilized using GO d was measured as 91.60 ± 3.66% with sustained lamivudine release over a period of 6 h. Rheological and microscopic examinations indicated long term stability of the developed emulsion prepared using GO d . The results of the current study provide a promising scope to attain sustained drug release through the W/O/W multiple emulsions stabilized by GO d in antiviral therapies.